The E-newsletter of the Roanoke County Economic Development Department is designed to showcase the investments and achievements of our existing business partners. For additional information about doing business in Roanoke County, visit our website.
To design and implement innovative economic development programs and services that leverage community assets, create wealth and prosperity, and embrace the region's
Bring your current challenges or topics you would like to discuss with fellow Product Managers. We'll use the Lean Coffee format to talk through ideas and come up with a topic that is interesting and timely for the group...
The next BizDev Forum, on Thursday, June 23, will be an open conversation and round table style discussion on how marketing and sales professionals in our region have been able to maximize on their trade shows spending by developing a process.
After significant public input, a draft of the Community Strategic Plan is available for public review on the Community Strategic Plan webpage. Citizens are encouraged to review the draft document which will also be available at all Roanoke County Libraries on the public computers and as a hardcopy starting the week of June 6th. The public comment period will end July 3rd.
There will be four community meetings held this month where citizens can review, discuss and comment on the draft document.The meetings will be open-house style. There will be no formal presentation, so you may come and go as you please.
County staff will be available for questions.
Once the comments are received and the draft document is updated, the draft Community Strategic Plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in a Work Session on July 19th. The Board of Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing and consider adoption of the document at its August 9th meeting.
Additional information regarding the Community Strategic Plan process.
Thank you all who participated and continue to participate in helping us define the future strategic direction for our community.
The Focus Group members' work was instrumental to bring this plan to fruition. Upon its adoption, the Community Strategic Plan will help Roanoke County provide the right services in the best way possible to the citizens of Roanoke County.
Please contact Dan O'Donnell, Assistant County Administrator, to discuss any aspects of the Community Strategic Plan document or process by phone at 540-772-2017 or by email.
Need help with your emergency evacuation plan? Would you like for someone to witness a fire drill and give some help? Do your employees need education on fire extinguishers? Roanoke County Fire and Rescues can assist with any of those items, or maybe you have another safety concern at your business.
Please don't hesitate to call ask. Even if it's not something that Roanoke County Fire and Rescue may be able to help with directly, they can point you in the right direction.
Left to Right: Heather French, Director of HR; John Higginbotham, Vice President; Chad Tyson, Director of Virginia Operations, Corrugated Container Corporation and Jill Loope, Director of Economic Development; Jason Peters, Board of Supervisors Chair, Roanoke County.
During the May 10th Board of Supervisors meeting
Corrugated Container Corporationaccepted the Roanoke County Business Appreciation Month Proclamation on behalf of the Roanoke County business community.
Corrugated Container Corporation (CCC) has maintained business operations in Roanoke for 53 years. CCC's innovative packaging has resulted in their receiving 14 American Advertising Awards. In the past 4 years, as a corporate citizen of the County, they have donated nearly a quarter of a million dollars to well-deserving philanthropic and charitable organizations that provide needed services throughout the community.
Corrugated Container Corporation exhibits all of the qualities that are valued and celebrated in the Roanoke County business community.
Students partnered with local companies for internships and innovative projects ranging from 3D printing to Boolean algebra to enzymes research and even reimagining a new design and layout for the Burton Center for Arts and Technology.
The list of companies students partnered with include,
Click
HERE for a List of companies and students who partnered on engineering projects.
Archer Family Recognized by Virginia House of Delegates
Left to Right Jim Archer, Nancy Doucette (Archer), Jacqueline Archer, Bob Archer, Regine Archer, Delegate Head, Delegate Habeeb, Delegate Rasoul
The Economic Development Department congratulates the Archer family for being recognized by a Resolution from the Virginia House of Delegates for the family's service and contributions to the Commonwealth. Thank you Delegate Habeeb for visiting Blue Ridge Beverage to present the Resolution to Regine Archer and Bob Archer.
The Archer family owns and operates
Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc. which is one of the largest, full-service wholesale beverage distributors in Virginia.
Ground Breaking - Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center
Board of Supervisors Member Martha Hooker addressed community leaders and supporters of the $1.7M expansion at Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center today.
The much needed 12,000-plus square foot addition will serve a waiting list of 40 to 50 students by offering one-on-one services, STARS classrooms, a gym, a vocational training center and a life skills center. I would like to point out that the life skills center will be the first of its kind in the Roanoke region.
Learn more about Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center
The Williamson Road Area Business Association (WRABA) in conjunction with the Roanoke County Administration, Police, Community Development and General Services Departments, as well as the Virginia Department of Transportation will be continuing a series of walks on Williamson Road in Roanoke County.
The first County walk will take place on Thursday, July 14th, at 4:00 p.m. (rain date July 28th at 4:00 p.m.) from the City/County Line at 5411 Williamson Road to Brookside Plaza and back. Our next walks will also be in sections and are scheduled for:
Thursday August 18, 2016 walking from Peters Creek Road to TBD
Thursday September 22, 2016 walking from TBD to Shadwell
Past walks have facilitated improvements, repairs and conversations regarding possible improvements along Williamson Road.
Carollyn Miller, owner of Creative Wellness Therapy, cuts the ribbon!
Ribbon Cutting...
Roanoke County and the Roanoke Regional Chamber welcomed Creative Wellness Therapeutic Massage to our business community at their ribbon cutting on May 24th!
After almost four years of dedicated service to the Catawba Sustainability Center, Josh Nease will leave us to take a position at Radford University where he will serve as Sustainability and Selu Academic Program Manager. Josh has earned our confidence and respect during his tenure and has provided outstanding leadership.
Highlights of Josh's accomplishments at the Center include: a five year strategic plan and concept land use map; strong partnerships with university faculty and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources and Environment; effectively developed relationships with University Planning and Virginia Tech Facilities Services; improved the small farm incubator plot program; established the CSC Advisory Committee and Catawba Farmers Market Steering Committee; strengthened partnerships with the Catawba community, Catawba Landcare, and the American Chestnut Foundation; and delivered successful programs and workshops relevant to sustainability best practices. Josh also lead the way to make significant facility improvements-structural repairs to the two barns, demolition of buildings beyond repair, water system upgrade, nutrient improvements, and construction of necessary fencing.
His work with Roanoke County's Office of Economic Development and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Departments is commendable. Through these partnerships, we celebrate the funding from the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund to study local food initiatives, we have installed Phase I of the Blue Blaze Trail, and we continue to lend support to serve the community through the Catawba Farmers Market.
Please congratulate Josh and thank him for his leadership and service. Because of his good work, our vision of transforming this beautiful historic property into an international platform for sustainable practices is closer to becoming a reality!
Rezoning For Macado's in Vinton!
Want to learn more about the new Macado's in Vinton?
This program airs from the first week of April until the last week of June in 2016.
This episode of the Roanoke County Business Partners television show highlights opportunities to participate in community strategic planning, as well as opportunities for employment, investment, and business assistance.
Go to yesroanoke.com to view the latest Business Partners online video.
Roanoke County Business Partners airs every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and every Friday at 6:00 p.m. on RVTV Channel 3.
